It all began in Bordeaux, in the heart of the vines at Château Smith Haut Lafitte, the estate belonging to Mathilde’s parents. Caudalie is a unique story of love, nature, passion, chance encounters, and a sense of adventure!
Let us tell you the story.
1993
The Encounter
We met professor Joseph Vercauteren, laboratory director of the Pharmacy University of Bordeaux, during the harvest at Château Smith Haut Lafitte. He told us that grape seeds contain the most powerful antioxidants in the world. We have worked together for 25 years, as well as with his laboratory and teams. By upcycling these grape seeds, we have been pioneers of natural and responsible beauty.
1995
Polyphenols
Two years after this encounter, we launched our first 3 products, containing grape seed polyphenols (which still exist today!). At just 23 years old, we packed our bags and set out to show pharmacists across France our creations. Impressed with the effectiveness of our products, we were given our first shot of success - and there, Caudalie truly began...
[KODALI]
[kodali] (oenological term). A unit measuring the duration of the wine's flavour on the palette. For each second the flavour remains this is a caudalie.
1997
Beauty Elixir
The formula is inspired by the Queen of Hungary’s elixir of youth.
The unique, 100% plant-based formula quickly became a cult classic, loved by celebrities, makeup artists, and beauty enthusiasts all around the world.
We always dreamed of creating a unique moment of wellbeing, hidden amongst the heart of the brand. While exploring the family estate where Caudalie was born, we discovered a natural hot spring 500 meters underground. This is how we came to create the first Vinothérapie Spa. Priding ourselves on the tiny details, this unique brand experience allows you to unwind and enjoy our specialist treatments, performed by leading Vinotherapists - an indulgent and rejuvenating experience away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Hot spring water meets vine extracts to create treatments that are effective, sensorial, and unique. Welcome to the world’s first Vinothérapie™ Spa, at the heart of the vines: Les Sources de Caudalie.
Grape vines can live for 100 years, thanks to the naturally produced resveratrol that helps the vine's natural defenses and ability to regenerate. Caudalie played a pioneering role by introducing resveratrol into skincare for the first time by extracting, stabilizing, and patenting it, delivering its firming and anti-aging properties.
2005
Viniférine
While working in the vineyards, women discovered that the sap from vine stalks helped fade dark spots on their hands and restore radiance. This observation inspired Professor Vercauteren to identify and patent its key molecule, viniferine, leading to the creation of our Vinoperfect Serum, now a worldwide best-seller.
2006
A Pioneer in Cosm-ethics
We established our Cosm-ethics charter in 2006 and continue to strengthen it each year. Mathilde is committed to creating formulas of natural origin that are both effective and sensorially luxurious.
“I am personally committed to every formula: Every week I test dozens of formulas to choose the most effective and sensorial ones.”
Co-founder of Caudalie
2013 - 2023
Partnership with Dr. David Sinclair, Harvard Medical School
Efficacy has always been at the heart of our concerns. That’s why we worked with Dr. David Sinclair from Harvard Medical School for 10 years. Nicknamed the “longevity guru” by Times Magazine, our joint research resulted in the discovery of unique ingredients and exclusive patents, at the cutting edge of anti-aging innovation: resveratrol – the active ingredient that's even more effective than retinol for lifting and firming(1) – or TET8™ technology to target all the signs of aging.
2015
The French Beauty Solution
After spending 5 years in the United States, meeting thousands of women and really listening to their skin concerns, Mathilde launched her first book that shared her vision, beauty expertise, and practical advice with, of course, a natural "French" beauty twist!
2018
New Laboratories
Our new lab is larger, more advanced, and eco-designed, powered by geothermal energy as part of our commitment to more responsible and innovative Cosm-ethics. It also includes an ultra-modern logistics hub with a global reach, alongside our Natural Formulation and Cellular & Molecular Biology Laboratories, where more than 750 innovative ingredients and active compounds are developed.
2019
More Sustainable Packaging
Caudalie has always been committed to ensuring that you no longer have to choose between effective products, clean and natural-origin formulas, and a sustainable brand. We take a systemic and circular approach to our packaging, following the 3R rule: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. Our goal? To offer packaging that is recycled and/or recyclable and/or refillable.
2020
100% Ocean Plastic Collect Launch
Based in Thailand and co-founded by Tristan Lecomte and Second Life, this environmental project aims to extract plastic waste from the oceans and transform it into resources. With the help of local collectors and recyclers, we give new life to waste: we collect the equivalent of the amount of virgin plastic we use each year from the ocean, rivers, and beaches.
2022
10 Years of Collaboration with 1% for the Planet
Caudalie has been a member of 1% for the Planet since 2012. As one of the world’s first cosmetic contributors, we have financed the planting of more than 13 million trees in more than 13 countries. To give back to the earth a little of what it gives us every day, we have decided to give 1% of our sales to environmental organizations that protect, restore, and enhance forests and their biodiversity, with a focus on regions of the world that are particularly threatened by deforestation.
2023
Resveratrol–Lift Reinvented
Caudalie innovates and has reinvented its iconic Resveratrol-Lift range, the No. 1 in anti-ageing in France (1), thanks to a new generation of collagen: Vegan Collagen. A revolutionary green technology offers an effective plant-based solution to the natural loss of the 3 types of collagen essential to skin, and which opens up a new path to anti-aging that's vegan and more sustainable.
By combining a new natural-origin plumping active ingredient derived from rosewood with its Longevity Patent developed with Harvard Medical School, the Premier Cru collection reactivates the skin’s youth mechanisms and provides a complete solution against all signs of aging: wrinkles, dark spots, and loss of volume, for skin that looks younger for longer.
20 Years of the No. 1 Dark Spot Solution in France(3)
An icon of the Vinoperfect collection, the Brightening Dark Spot Serum has won over millions since its launch in 2005. Effective on all types of dark spots (sun, age, acne, and pregnancy), it is formulated with patented viniferine, an active ingredient that is 62x more effective than vitamin C.** Prescribed by dermatologists in France, one bottle is sold every 15 seconds worldwide.***
(1) In vitro test on the thickness of collagen fibres.
(2) GERSDATA – SOG EARLY – Face skincare category – Anti-ageing segment – in turnover on the pharmacy distribution circuit – in France – for CMA to March 2025.
(3) GERSDATA – SOG EARLY – Facial care category – Anti-pigmentation segment – based on sales in the pharmacy distribution channel – in France – on the CMA in January 2025.
(4) In vitro test on the inhibiting action of Viniferine on tyrosinase.
(5) Calculation based on internal Sell-in data from January 2024 to December 2024.
 "Mathilde Thomas")